Prostate Specific Antigen

Prostate Specific Antigen

(Source: Internet: http://www.prostatecancerguide.net/PSA-test)

 

1. The levels of serine protease enzyme produced in the prostate which is commonly known as prostate specific antigen and abbreviated to PSA.

2. Determination of PSA levels can be used to gauge the likelihood that the patient has developed prostate cancer or not.

3. The PSA test is generally taken in parallel with the digital rectal examination to ensure more accurate diagnosis.

4. Men normally have a low level of PSA in the blood stream; levels of PSA can become elevated if prostate function is disrupted.

5. Elevated PSA levels alone are not necessary an indicator of cancer, as infections of the prostate and benign growths may also lead to leakage of PSA into the bloodstream.

6. Other factors that increase the prostate specific antigen levels in a test include recent ejaculation and bike riding. It has been recorded many times that patients with a high PSA score do not have cancerous growth of the prostate.

7. The levels of PSA are also very dependent upon age and the size of the prostate, generally older people and larger prostates result in a naturally higher level of PSA’s. Conversely many drugs, such as those given to combat benign prostate hyperplasia can lead to a lowering of PSA levels and hence mask detection of cancerous growth. PSaA is measured in nano-grams per millilitre and is normally in the range of 0.1 to 4.

8. There are two forms of PSA present in the bloodstream, those bound to alpha antichymotrypsin, which are the most abundant form, and free PSA. It is generally considered that by analyzing the percentage of free PSA together with total PSA (defined as percent-free PSA) will lead to a better PSA test result interpretation and a more accurate diagnostics of the chance of a patient having prostate cancer.

9. Patients with PSA test results of between 4 and 10 are normally considered borderline patients; the level of percent free PSA well then determine if a biopsy is required. If percent-free PSA test numbers are 10% or less then the chance of having cancer is about 50%. Normally a doctor will recommend a patient has a biopsy if percent-free PSA readings are less than 25%.

10. It is recommended that both a digital rectal examination and a Protein specific antigen test are carried out together.

'Salt intake not linked to heart disease'

'Salt intake not linked to heart disease'

TNN , Jul 7, 2011, 06.03am IST
(Source: Times of India newspaper on Internet; The following interesting news from Times of India newspaper is being posted for general awarness).
 
LONDON: For years, doctors have been saying that too much salt is bad for health. Yet, a new study claims that it's safe to eat - and cutting its intake does nothing to lower risk of having heart disease. High levels of salt have long been linked to a greater risk of developing hypertension , heart attacks and strokes. Now, researchers at the University of Exeter claim to have found evidence that although blood pressure is reduced when salt intake is cut, there're actually no longterm health benefits, the 'Daily Express' reported. They reviewed seven researches that looked at 6,489 people, which they said was a large enough set of data from which to draw conclusions. Most researches recommen ded a reduction of 50% of nor mal salt intake. A person's daily salt intake from the research papers reviewed was on average 8-9 g a day, so the reduction was to around 4g. But this had no long-term health benefit. "Encouragement to reduce salt intake did lead to a reduction in salt eaten and a small reduction in BP after six months. "What we wanted to see was whether this dietary change also reduced a person's risk suffering from cardiovascular events," author Prof Rod Taylor said.

A Clove of Garlic to beat tuberculosis

A Clove of Garlic to beat tuberculosis
Abantika Ghosh TNN

New Delhi: The unassuming garlic in your kitchen could be ’s saviour from multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). Researchers at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have found that allicin — a natural anti-oxidant present in garlic — can prevent replication of the MDR TB bacterium inside the human body. The findings were recently published in the journal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies — FEBS Letters. Now there is increasing talk worldwide of allicin being the answer to not just TB but to drug resistant forms of all diseases. Though the capsules would need to be enteric coated because the stomach acid is known to quickly destroy allicin. Najmul Islam, reader at the department of biochemistry in J N Medical College, AMU, toldTimesCity: ‘‘Garlic contains a highly unstable compound called allin and an enzyme called allinase is extracted when garlic is crushed or chewed. Under the effect of allinase, allin is converted to allicin, a potent antioxidant that prevents formation of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species inside the body.’’ The topic is the Phd thesis of an AMU research fellow Nazarul Hasan. The free radicals, he explained, are essential for the replication of any bacterium inside the body. ‘‘We chose the MDR TB bacteria and introduced allicin into blood cells infected with it. The bacteria stopped replicating. Allicin has also been found to increase the activity of an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase that decreases the production of reactive oxygen species,’’ Islam said. ’s rising MDR TB burden has been a matter of concern of national and international health authorities for some years now. An estimated 500,000 Indians die of TB every year, of which some 3% are victims of MDR TB. Internationally, the TB death toll is estimated to be two to three million per year. Multidrug resistant TB is resistant to more than two of the primary antibiotics used for treatment of TB. The most common reason for its genesis, doctors say, is the common practice of patients to start intake of an antibiotic but not finish its full course so that the bacterium which is exposed to the chemical but not killed gets enough time to mutate to a variety which is resistant to that particular chemical. Islam added: ‘‘The advantages of allicin are many. It does not require sophisticated storage and delivery systems and thus the possibility of losing its potency in any storage condition and time in comparison to known medicine for TB is nil. It is easily available and costs less with no known side effects.’’ Researchers at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have found that allicin — a natural anti-oxidant present in garlic — can prevent replication of the MDR TB bacterium inside the human body. The findings were recently published in the journal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies — FEBS Letters. Now there is increasing talk worldwide of allicin being the answer to not just TB but to drug resistant forms of all diseases. Though the capsules would need to be enteric coated because the stomach acid is known to quickly destroy allicin. Najmul Islam, reader at the department of biochemistry in J N Medical College, AMU, told : ‘‘Garlic contains a highly unstable compound called allin and an enzyme called allinase is extracted when garlic is crushed or chewed. Under the effect of allinase, allin is converted to allicin, a potent anti The free radicals, he explained, are essential for the replication of any bacterium inside the body. ‘‘We chose the MDR TB bacteria and introduced allicin into blood cells infected with it. The bacteria stopped replicating. Allicin has also been found to increase the activity of an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase that de ’s rising MDR TB burden has been a matter of concern of national and international health authorities for some years now. An estimated 500,000 Indians die of TB every year, of which some 3% are victims of MDR TB. Internationally, the TB death toll is estimated to be two to three million per year. Multidrug resistant TB is resistant to more than two of the primary antibiotics used for treatment of TB. The most common reason for its genesis, doctors say, is the common practice of patients to start intake of an antibiotic but not finish its full course so that the bacterium which is exposed to the chemical but not killed gets enough time to mutate to a variety which is resistant to that particular chemical. Islam added: ‘‘The advantages of allicin are many. It does not require sophisticated storage and delivery systems and thus the possibility of losing its potency in any storage condition and time in comparison to known medicine for TB is nil. It is easily available and costs less with no known side effects.’’

Nanorobots in Nanomedicine

Nanorobots in Nanomedicine
(Source:Interesting and useful information taken from Internet i. e. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanomedicine)

It is widely believed that, in due course of time and once realized, nanorobots in medicine would drastically change the medicine world. Nanomedicine would utilize these nanorobots e.g., computational genes, by introducing them into the body, which in turn,would repair or detect damages and infections. According to Robert Freitas of the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, a typical blood borne medical nanorobot would be between 0.5-3 micrometres in size, because that is the maximum size possible due to capillary passage requirement. Carbon could be the primary element used to build these nanorobots due to the inherent strength and other characteristics of some forms of carbon (diamond/fullerene composites), and nanorobots would be fabricated in desktop nanofactories specialized for this purpose.
Nanodevices could be observed at work inside the body using MRI, especially if their components were manufactured using mostly 13C atoms rather than the natural 12C isotope of carbon, since 13C has a nonzero nuclear magnetic moment. Medical nanodevices would first be injected into a human body, and would then go to work in a specific organ or tissue mass. The doctor will monitor the progress, and make certain that the nanodevices have gotten to the correct target treatment region. The doctor will also be able to scan a section of the body, and actually see the nanodevices congregated neatly around their target (a tumor mass, etc.) so that he or she can be sure that the procedure was successful.

BENEFITS OF GRAPES

Some of the health benefits of grapes include the following:
(Source: Internet)

Grapes can be used for:

1. Curing kidney disorders as well as asthma
2. Increasing moisture present in lungs
3. Increasing nitric oxide levels in the blood thereby preventing
blood clots and hence minimizing the probability of heart attacks.
It also prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which blocks the
blood vessels through the action of antioxidants present in grapes
4. Helps in curing migraine as well as in overcoming indigestion,
constipation and fatigue
5. Boosts the immune system by the action of natural antioxidants
present within.
6. Helps in the management of Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Possess antibacterial and anticancer activities.

Ginseng and Cancer

Ginseng and Cancer
(Source: Internet)
Cell culture studies carried out by Professor David E. Williams and Dr. Sharon K. Kruger from ‘The Linus Pauling Institute’ have demonstrated that:
Certain ginsenosides possess anticancer effects, which shows
(a) Dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth
(b) Tumor cell toxicity
(c) Reverse transformation of tumor
(d) Inhibition of tumor cell invasion
They also found that not all ginsenosides have anticancer properties. Since ginsenosides have a steroidal structure, the above researchers thought that they may have their most profound anticancer effects on hormonally regulated cancers, such as breast cancer.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINSENG

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINSENG
(Source: Articles, etc on web)

1. Ginseng ingrediants include 25 saponin triterpenoid glycosides which is also known as ginsenosides. It also contains vitamin A, B6 and zinc.
2. Ginseng can:
(a) Down regulate stress
(b) Augment performance
(c) Augment energy levels
(d) Improve memory
(e) Boost the immune system
(f) Could serve as a preventive and a curative natural agent.
(g) Functions as an adaptogen
(h) Lowers high blood pressure
(i) Raise low blood pressure to near normal levels.
(j) Elevates estrogen levels in women
(k) Beneficial to treat menopause symptoms
(l) Stimulate heart and blood vessels.

Fruits, Vegetables and Prostrate Cancer

Fruits, Vegetables and Prostrate Cancer
(Source: Internet)
A diet high in fruits and vegetables has been linked to a lower risk of various kinds of cancer. Foods high in folate — a B vitamin found in spinach, asparagus and some beans — may be helpful. Also, eating vegetables with diindolylmethane — a nutrient found in cruciferous foods such as broccoli, kale and cabbage — might protect against prostate cancer. Studies show mixed results about whether lycopene — an antioxidant found in tomatoes — lowers prostate cancer risk.

Symptoms of Brain Tumor

Symptoms of Brain Tumor

(Source: http://www.virtualtrials.com/symptoms.cfm)

They reported:

Headaches: This was the most common symptom, with 46% of the patients reporting having headaches. They described the headaches in many different ways, with no one pattern being a sure sign of brain tumor. Many - perhaps most - people get headaches at some point in their life, so this is not a definite sign of brain tumors. You should mention it to your doctors if the headaches are: different from those you ever had before, are accompanied by nausea / vomiting, are made worse by bending over or straining when going to the bathroom.(1)


Seizures: This was the second most common symptom reported, with 33% of the patients reporting a seizure before the diagnosis was made. Seizures can also be caused by other things, like epilepsy, high fevers, stroke, trauma, and other disorders. (3) This is a symptom that should never be ignored, whatever the cause. In a person who never had a seizure before, it usually indicates something serious and you must get a brain scan.

A seizure is a sudden, involuntary change in behavior, muscle control, consciousness, and/or sensation. Symptoms of a seizure can range from sudden, violent shaking and total loss of consciousness to muscle twitching or slight shaking of a limb. Staring into space, altered vision, and difficulty in speaking are some of the other behaviors that a person may exhibit while having a seizure. Approximately 10% of the U.S. population will experience a single seizure in their lifetime.


Nausea and Vomiting: As with headaches, these are non-specific - which means that most people who have nausea and vomiting do NOT have a brain tumor. Twenty-two percent of the people in our survey reported that they had nausea and /or vomiting as a symptom.

Nausea and / or vomiting is more likely to point towards a brain tumor if it is accompanied by the other symptoms mentioned here.


Vision or hearing problems: Twenty-five percent reported vision problems. This one is easy - if you notice any problem with your hearing or vision, it must be checked out. I commonly hear that the eye doctor is the first one to make the diagnosis - because when they look in your eyes, they can sometimes see signs of increased intracranial pressure. This must be investigated.


Problems with weakness of the arms, legs or face muscles, and strange sensations in your head or hands. Twenty-five percent reported weakness of the arms and/or legs. Sixteen percent reported strange feelings in the head, and 9% reported strange feelings in the hands. This may result in an altered gait, dropping objects, falling, or an asymmetric facial expression. These could also be symptoms of a stroke. Sudden onset of these symptoms is an emergency - you should go to the emergency room. If you notice a gradual change over time, you must report it to your doctor.


Behavioral and cognitive problems: Many reported behavioral and cognitive changes, such as: problems with recent memory, inability to concentrate or finding the right words, acting out - no patience or tolerance, and loss of inhibitions - saying or doing things that are not appropriate for the situation.
IF you think something is wrong, go see your doctor. Explain that you are worried it is a brain tumor. Keep in mind that brain tumors are relatively rare compared to most other disorders, so the primary care doctor is not usually going to be thinking it is a brain tumor. They first think of more common causes of the symptoms. Sixty-four percent of the time, the doctor thought it was NOT a brain tumor when respondents first went to the doctor. More than half of the people reported that they had the symptoms for more than a month before the correct diagnosis of brain tumor was made. With the malignant brain tumors, a delay of a month in starting treatment can make a major impact on the outcome.

There is a more detailed paper on brain tumor symptoms at: http://virtualtrials.com/symptoms.pdf

Natural Therapy for AIDS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS)

Natural Therapy for AIDS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS)

(Source: http://www.cqs.com/aidstherapy.htm :A Highly Informative Site of Jonathan Campbell, Health Consultant)

The Natural Therapy for AIDS, CFS, & CFIDS integrates the research work of Matthias Rath and Ian Brighthope. It is designed for people with AIDS, CFS, or CFIDS and people who have been tested HIV-positive.

Much of this document may come as a shock to you. The popular notions about AIDS - and the belief system held by most doctors - that if you are HIV positive that you will necessarily get AIDS, that AIDS is a death sentence, and that you must take anti-viral and synthetic protease inhibition drugs to stop it, are not supported by medical evidence.

First, the so-called HIV test is multifactorial. The tests show positive results for many ordinary diseases, for past illness, and even pregnancy.

Second, as the first point would imply, AIDS progression is multifactorial - some of the ordinary diseases that do cause a positive HIV test are deadly, but they are not addressed by the HIV drugs.

Finally, the AIDS drugs - the anti-retrovirals (ARVs) such as AZT and Combivir and synthetic protease inhibitors such as Kaletra - are extremely toxic chemicals whose so-called "side effects" are eventually deadly. Like other toxic medications used in the past such as mercury, the AIDS drugs appear to cause temporary remission of symptoms. But the anti-retroviral medications eventually cause bone marrow failure or complete destruction of the immune system, and the synthetic protease inhibitors cause defects in muscle and fat, preventing normal cellular repair and replacement, and eventually causing muscle wasting and death.

The regimen described here is a complete AIDS/CFS/CFIDS regimen that can be used as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. It has been shown to increase white blood cell count, enhance immunity to stop bacterial, fungal, and viral infection, and generally promote health.
How does this natural AIDS/CFIDS therapy work?

The symptoms of AIDS, CFS, and CFIDS – immune dysfunction, opportunistic infection, low white blood cell counts, and tissue destruction – are caused by ordinary diseases and accelerated by drugs, industrial toxins, and pharmaceutical immune system suppressants. All diseases spread and replicate by using an enzyme called protease, which destroys collagen.

In 1991, Dr. Matthias Rath found that the amino acid lysine, when combined with vitamin C, inhibit collagen destruction. In spring, 2002, he and his research team announced that they had discovered that adding the amino acid proline and an extract of green tea called EGCG had stopped protease destruction of collagen - connective tissue - even by cancer cells.

The AIDS/CFS/CFIDS regimen works in six ways to stop AIDS, CFS, and CFIDS and their symptoms:

The core nutrients and antioxidants of the regimen together stop the destructive action of toxins, free radicals, and proteases - they act as a natural protease inhibitor. In other words, the toxin and protease molecules are neutralized by the regimen components into harmless chemicals that are then excreted. They act as "decoys" to prevent the toxins and proteases from attacking cells and destroying collagen in living tissue. Since they are ordinary, natural amino acids, they do not interfere with normal body chemistry. (Synthetic protease inhibitors such as Kaletra, Efaverenz and Crixivan interfere with normal protein synthesis, so that your body cannot repair and replace muscle tissue. Long term use causes muscle wasting and death.)

The regimen builds and strengthens your immune system, by supplying the raw materials for building healthy white blood cells, which can identify, surround, and destroy viruses and unhealthy cells, and by supplying the immune system with the raw materials to build antibodies. This fortifies the body to inhibit spread of bacteria, fungi, and viruses directly and strengthens the body against opportunistic infections.

The therapy contains several potent natural antimicrobial nutrients. There are many studies showing the effectiveness of these natural antimicrobial nutrients, yet they are completely non-toxic in enormous quantities since they are common food and drink nutrients. (Synthetic anti-viral drugs such as AZT and Nevirapine interfere with normal cell division and function. Long term use causes AIDS progression, immune suppression, bone marrow failure, and death.)

The core components of the regimen allow your body to rebuild and regenerate the connective tissue – collagen – that has been destroyed.

When used in conjunction with a healthy diet, the therapy provides sufficient nutrients to restore normal cellular metabolism. These nutrients are often deficient in AIDS, CFS, and CFIDS patients.

The regimen increases peripheral circulation, including to neurons in the brain and elsewhere. This helps to reduce or prevent neuropathy, a common problem faced by AIDS, CFS, and CFIDS patients.

Are there documented studies of this therapy?

The studies thus far have been small pre-clinical studies done by Dr. Rath and his associates, and are ongoing. The results have been very positive.

Dr. Rath has been working in South Africa to promote his work and oppose the pharamaceutical industry's promotion of toxic drugs. His foundation website, http://www.dr-rath-foundation.org, shows some of the results of his work there.

It is currently impossible for natural regimens to get evaluated in government-sponsored research studies; the FDA, CDC, and NIH are all beholden to pharmaceutical interests.

Is this AIDS/CFS/CFIDS therapy safe?

The AIDS/CFS/CFIDS therapy nutrients are ordinary food nutrients. It has no side effects.

What about other medications and insulin?

If you are taking Lipitor or another statin drug to reduce cholesterol, you can stop taking it after starting this regimen, since it naturally reduces cholesterol levels.

If you are taking other heart or blood-pressure remedies (e.g., beta blocker, calcium channel blocker), ask your doctor to carefully monitor the symptoms that these drugs are supposed to address, and taper off the dosage as your cardiovascular system becomes healthy again on its own.

If you are taking insulin, monitor your blood sugar carefully, as your need for insulin will probably be reduced significantly.

If you are being treated for any other illnesses or for opportunistic infections or pneumonia, you must avoid immune-suppressive drugs such as hydrocortisone and prednisone and fluoride-based immune suppressants such as fluocinolone.

Why don’t most doctors know about this therapy?

This therapy and other natural remedies for chronic illness are not known by most doctors because their primary source of information is the pharmaceutical industry, which has no incentive to publicize non-patentable, inexpensive, natural remedies or cures. Doctors are literally barraged each day with drug company reports, press releases, and free samples. Meanwhile, we are treated to advertisements for these expensive new pharmaceutical "remedies" on television and in virtually every newspaper and magazine in the United States, so that we know just which drugs to ask for from our doctors.

The conventional treatments for chronic illnesses do not generally cure or prevent these illnesses, but instead call for expensive maintenance drugs or toxic chemicals that destroy the immune system and inhibit healing.

These maintenance and/or toxic therapies represent hundreds of billions of dollars per year in drug company revenue. Thus cheap, non-patentable natural remedies and cures represent a major threat to these companies.

Biological Activity of Neem Compounds

Biological Activity of Neem Compounds

(Source:www.infinityfoundation.com)
Some of the biological activity of neem compounds are:

1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Antiarthritic
3. Antipyretic
4. Hypoglycaemic
5. Antigastric ulcer
6. Spermicidal
7. Antifungal
8. Antibacterial
9. Diuretic
10.Antimalarial
11.Antitumour
12.Immunomodulatory, etc.

Medicinal Uses of Neem

Medicinal Uses of Neem

(Source:www.ozonebiotech.com)

Since ancient times, Neem (Azadirachta indica) has been used in India for relieving sickness and disease. Its medicinal uses are well documented in ‘Ayurveda,’ the ancient Indian system of medicine.
Every part of the tree has some medicinal use. External uses of Neem comprise the treatment of dermatological disorders (psoriasis, herpes, eczema, pruritis, and acne vulgaris) , inflammatory condition , infected wounds, abscesses and ulcer, ophthalmic care, ear infection and sinusitis alopecia and hair care, snake bite and scorpion sting, rheumatic pain, gout , etc.
Internal uses of Neem are commonly for dental hygiene, and for treating
malaria and filaria , typhoid, digestive , disorders, intestinal worms,
hepatitis, spleenomeglay, respiratory disorders, tuberculosis, urinary
disorders, gynecological problems, diabetes, hypertension, cancer,
leprosy, leprosy, leucoferma, allergies, etc., infectious diseases such
as smallpox, chicken pox, and measles, vaginal disorders, sexually
transmitted infection, and possibly AIDS. The potential of Neem as a
fertility-regulating agent is described. The scientific basis for medicinal uses of Neem and future prospects in relieving human sickness
and disease is discussed.

Tuberculosis: Daily intake of Neem barks decoction helps cure this malady.
Dental Hygiene: Neem is probably best known for dental hygiene. For centuries, millions of people in
India have been using Neem stick as “ disposable toothbrushes “ for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. The practice is said to clean the teeth of dirty smelling plaque, phlegm particles, rendering the
mouth clean and pleasant. Occasional intake of pulp is also recommended for dental hygiene.Rinsing the mouth with decoction made from Neem root or bark is effective against many dental ills.
Antifungal property: Neem is effective against several fungi that infect human body. For instance, in a laboratory study, Neem preparations showed toxicity to culture of 14 common fungi, including Trichophyton sp. Causing “athlete’s foot ,” which affects hair, skin , and nails;Epiderophyton sp.-a “ringworm “ that invades both skin and nails of the feet; Microsporum sp. a ringworm that infects hair, skin, and occasionally nails; Trichosporon sp. ,a fungus of the digestive tract; Geotrichum sp. – a yeastlike fungus that infects bronchi, lungs, and mucous membranes, and Candida spp.- yeastlike fungi that can lead to lesions in mouth (thrush), female genital tract , skin ,hands, and lungs. In comparison with general antibiotics, the use of Neem oil gave very promising results and become popular for treating ringworm, Tinea supp., in children in Kenya.
Fertility regulation: Studies conducted on rodents have confirmed that Neem seed extract can completely abrogate pregnancy at an early
post-implantation stage. The treatment had no residual effects with respect to the future fertility of the animals. The active fraction in the
extract, identified recently as a mixture of six components, could completely abrogate pregnancy in rodents. The treatment with the active
fraction caused specific activation of T lymphocyte cells of CD8+ subtype as well as phagocytic cells followed by elevation in cytokines y-
interferon and TNF. The study pointed out that a pure active fraction of Neem seeds could be obtained for the purpose of early implantation
contraception when given orally, and its mechanism of action seems to be by activating cell-medicated immune reactions. Recently, a pre-
coital, vaginal, Neem based contraceptive “CONCEPT” has been developed in India and it already at large-scale clinical trial stages states
in India.
Chaga’s disease: Neem may prove a boon against the crippling chaga’s disease, which infects about
20 million people in Latin America. The disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite, which is transmitted by the bite of the kissing bugs. Recently, it has been found that azadirachtin somehow disrupts the delicately synchronised parasite development in the insect’s gut, rendering the bugs ”immune” or free from infection even 20 days after they had eaten blood laden with parasites. Injection of azadirachtin A into nymphs of the kissing bug resulted in complete disappearance of the parasite in the host. Whether Neem will eventually solve the Chaga’s disease problem remains to be seen.
Pain relief and fever reduction: Neem may prove to be a bountiful source of law –cost analgesic (pain relieving) or antipyretic (fever-
reducing) compounds and is used as such wherever it is grown. In trials conducted in Japan, positive results have been obtained for significant analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Some of the anti- inflammatory compounds have been patented.
Hepatitis: Intake of 2 teaspoonful of Neem leaf juice with honey accelerates the process of cure.
Spelleenomegaly: Intake of 2 teaspoonful of Neem leaf juice with honey cures the enlargement of spleen.
Respiratory disorders: Neem bark decoction is used as an antitussive in dry cough. Intake of powdered Neem leaves (1g) with honey
twice a day helps in suppressing cough. Neem oil (5-10drops) given with 2 tablespoonful of sugar daily for 15 d helps in treatment of
tropical eosinophilia.
Urinary disorders: Neem is effective in treating albuminaria, phosphaturia, and burning micturition. Intake of Neem leaf decoction (3g
leaves boiled in 4 cups of water until reduced to 2 cups) twice a day helps. In case of burning micturition, intake of 1 teaspoonful of Neem
leaf juice thrice a day is highly recommended.
Gynaecological disorders: Daily intake of 10g of Neem leaf juice with 1 tablespoonful of sugar early in the morning helps cure leucorrhoea,
dysmenorrhoea, and related disorders.
Diabetes: One tablespoonful of Neem leaf juice taken daily early morning for 3 months in helpful in diabetes. Alternatively, one can chew 10 Neem leaflets daily or ingest leaf powder. During treatment, diet control is also advised for quick results.
Hypertension: One tablespoonful of Neem leaf juice taken twice daily is useful in treating hypertension
Cancer: Chewing 10-12 Neem leaflets daily early and ingesting with warm water is recommended as a supportive treatment to cancer
patients.
Allergies: Neem is useful in all kinds of allergies, whether drug allergy or allergy due to smell, smoke, dust, eatables, etc. Eight to 10
leaflets are eaten early morning, which helps in purifying blood and controlling allergic reactions.
Vaginal disorders: Neem having urinary astringent and antipruetic properties gives immediate relief in most common vaginal disorders. A
pessary made from Neem fruits macerated with Neem leaf juice is kept in the vagina to relieve the burning sensation and heal cervical and
vaginal inflammation. In cases of uteral prolapse, the use of Neem decoction is recommended.
For easy delivery: During labour, it is recommended to apply a paste of Neem roots on lower abdomen. Intake of 1g of powdered Neem
gum with honey butter relieves tiredness during labour.
HIV/AIDS: Certain polysaccharides isolated from the inner bark of Neem trunk have been found to enhance human immunity against HIV,
which causes AIDS. Although I did not conduct clinical trials, oral administration of powdered inner Neem bark and turmeric, curcuma longa
, powder (10:1 proportion) to patients in 150mg doses thrice a day for one month suppressed AIDS-related symptoms, such as skin rash, diarrhoea, pneumonia, weight loss, etc. among communities living around the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya, where the AIDS incidence was very high.

Is Garlic Adding to Statin's Protection?

Keep Arteries Squeaky Clean :Garlic adds to statin's protection
by Allison Sarubin Fragakis, RD

(Source:www.mombu.com/medicine/heart)


An old-fashioned remedy may help fight one of the newest identified risk
factors for stroke and heart attack. In a group of high-risk cardiac
patients, researchers found that those taking a garlic supplement for 1
year had a 12% reduction in levels of homocysteine, a chemical that
irritates blood vessel linings, leading to plaque buildup. And although
both study groups were taking powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs called
statins, artery blockages grew 66% more slowly in the garlic takers.

"This was a small study, but we were pleasantly surprised by our
positive results," says Matthew Budoff, MD, assistant professor of
medicine at Harbor-UCLA Research and Education Institute. The study used
supplements of 1,200-mg garlic extract per day.

Allison Sarubin Fragakis, RD, is the author of The Health Professional's
Guide to Popular Dietary Supplements, 2nd edition (American Dietetic
Association, 2002).

Onions Combating TB and Osteoporosis

Research Advances: Onions Battle Osteoporosis; New Weapon in War on TB; Smokers Beware: Study Shows Increased Cadmium Levels in the Brain May Cause Severe Neurological Disorders

(Source:pubs.acs.org/; + Angela G. King,Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109 J. Chem. Educ., 2005, 82 (8), p 1114)
Abstract of the Report
This Report from Other Journals surveys articles of interest to chemists that have been recently published in other science journals. Topics surveyed include reports that a compound in onions reduces bone loss; a new diarylquinone inhibits tuberculosis in vitro; and cadium in tobacco influences amphetamine effects.

Garlic: A Natural Antibiotic

Garlic: A natural antibiotic

(Source:http://pubs.acs.org/)

As powerful antibiotics lose their punch against “superbugs” such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), scientists are searching for new antimicrobial agents from natural sources. Allicin, the major component of garlic, is one such agent, and it was recently shown to be potent against VRE and MRSA in two studies presented at the 41st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Chicago in December.
A study conducted by Jaya Prakash and colleagues at the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, IL, found that allicin has potent activity against VRE in vitro. “The basic problem with VRE is that it colonizes the gut,” says Prakash. “Many antibiotics used to control or prevent colonization also affect the normal flora.” The ideal solution, she explains, would be to prevent colonization with a food substance, given the safety of such compounds over antibiotics. Furthermore, she adds, the chance of organisms developing resistance is low. “Even with small amounts of these agents, they don’t become resistant.”

In their studies, the scientists obtained allicin from garlic tablets and determined its concentration. In vitro testing showed that microgram quantities were sufficient to significantly inhibit the growth of VRE. In contrast, 4000 µg of allicin corresponds to the amount found in one clove of garlic. Up to 25 g of garlic a day can be consumed without posing a risk of toxic side effects.

Prakash cautions that it is too early to say how much allicin intake will reap intestinal rewards against VRE. “In vitro [activity] does not correlate to in vivo activity,” she cautions. And the bad news is that allicin is destroyed when garlic is cooked in oil.

In the next stage of their work, they will study the effects of allicin on the gut microflora of animals to determine the concentration of allicin required to be efficacious in vivo.

In another study, Ron Cutler, from the University of East London (U.K.) and colleagues found that allicin liquid and cream formulations were highly potent against clinical isolates of MRSA, including those resistant to mupirocin—the agent commonly used to eradicate MRSA carriage among hospital staff and patients. Topical allicin formulations could be used as a safe, natural alternative to mupirocin for eliminating the carriage of MRSA and other microbes from the nose, skin, wounds, and dressings, he reports, and they could also be used in soaps and antibacterial agents.

—NICOLE JOHNSTON

Benefits of Garlic in Heart Diseases

Benefits of Garlic in Heart Diseases

(Source:www.healthcastle.com)

Numerous clinical trials have looked at the role and benefits of garlic supplements in heart disease. Many of these randomized studies showed positive benefits of garlic in heart disease: in particular, lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) and triglycerides (Also Read: How to lower Triglycerides?). A few small randomized trials also suggested the benefits of garlic in the prevention of platelet aggregation and thrombosis (the formation of plaques in the blood). Another study also showed that aged garlic extracts lowered high blood pressure. Most of these studies are relatively short-term, therefore we do not know if the positive benefits of garlic will last more than 3 months. Please also note that there were a number of studies showing conflicting results.

How much Garlic?
The American Dietetic Association suggested that in order to obtain the potential health benefits of garlic, one must take 600 - 900mg (about 1 fresh clove) per day.

Turmeric as Herbal Medicine

Turmeric as Herbal Medicine

(Source:ehow.com)

Turmeric benefits a healthier living style. It protects one's bodies immune system and can be used as a healer. The Chinese and Indian cultures have used turmeric as a medicine.

Reports indicate that Turmeric acts as herbal biomedicine as under:

1. It helps in the treatment of wounds, cuts, cysts and other skin conditions. It's a natural antibiotic, which was used on soldiers during World War 2 to treat gun shot wounds. Make a pace and use to cover with gauze.
2. It helps in the treatment of arthritis and to ease pain. It can reduce inflammation, specifically in the bones. It's best to use turmeric extract, as a supplement in health stores.
3.It helps in the prevention of cancer. Turmeric has been said to kill cancer cells in the body. According to studies, a teaspoon of turmeric a day might be able to help prevent cancer. Turmeric will help protect your body from free radicals.
4.It helps to treat diabetes. It's recommended to take two teaspoons a day, with those who have diabetes. Turmeric might prevent diabetes 2 and can help those who struggle to lose weight. Turmeric might also be helpful in treating Alzheimer's disease.
5. Turmeric can also be used to treat gallstones, indigestion, poor circulation, heart disease, anemia, food poisoning and parasites.

Green Tea May Prevent HIV Infection

Green Tea May Prevent HIV Infection

(Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66540.php)

A US and UK joint study suggests that drinking green tea may help to prevent HIV infection.

The preliminary study is published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and was a joint project between the University of Sheffield, UK, and Baylor College of Medicine, in Texas, USA.

The research team did test tube experiments on a green tea flavonoid called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and showed that it binds with CD4 immune system T-cell receptors and stops HIV from doing the same.

One of the researchers, Professor Mike Williamson of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Sheffield said, ""Our research shows that drinking green tea could reduce the risk of becoming infected by HIV, and could also slow down the spread of HIV."

Before people jump to conclusions that this study suggests green tea could deny HIV a foothold in the immune system, critics are cautious and say it is very early days.

Compounds that show good results at the "micro" level of cells in a test tube do not necessarily have the same effect at the "macro" level of immune systems in living organisms.

Prof Williamson was keen to point out that green tea is not a cure, and neither is it a safe way to avoid infection. The study merely suggests that EGCG " has potential use as adjunctive therapy in HIV-1 infection".

In other words, Prof Williamson said, "it should be used in combination with conventional medicines to improve quality of life for those infected".

He also mentioned that further studies to find out how much effect different amounts of green tea might have are already under way.

The study was sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health, and a range of research, education and other funds.

Last September, a study from Japan was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that reported high consumption of green tea was linked to reduced overall risk of death due to all causes and cardiovascular disease.

Other studies have also found positive links between green tea consumption and cancer.

Green Tea and Obesity

Green Tea and Obesity

(Source:http://www.greentealibrary.com/GT%20&%20Obesity%20-Article.htm)

Green tea has become the latest weapon in the war on weight. Oprah is a recent enthusiast, vowing that she’d trade her coffee for green tea when Dr. Nicholas Perricone told her she could lose weight simply by making this substitution. But does it really work?

The results of some new studies are promising, indicating that green tea can increase the rate of calorie burning, prevent excess weight gain and even reverse established obesity. And although most tests have been performed on laboratory animals, at least one with humans showed that taking in the equivalent of 3 cups of green tea per day helped the body burn a significant amount of additional calories.

Increased rate of fat burning - A 1999 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at the effects of green tea extract on energy "burning" in humans.1 Men who took daily doses of a green tea extract containing EGCg plus caffeine, in an amount equivalent to that found in about 3 cups of green tea, burned about 80 more calories per day than those who didn’t take the extract. (Taking the caffeine without the EGCg didn’t have the same effect.) While burning an extra 80 calories per day may not seem like much, over the course of a year that adds up to 29,200 calories, or a little more than 8 pounds lost – without making any other changes!

Prevention of excess weight gain - In a study involving animals, green tea extract helped prevent obesity. Two groups of mice were placed on a high-fat diet designed to ensure they would gain weight, with only one group also receiving green tea extract. The mice that were given green tea extract ended up gaining 47% less weight than those that didn’t get the extract.2

Reversal of obesity - In a 2005 study published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, green tea extract actually helped to reverse established obesity. Rats were deliberately overfed to make them obese. But when the obese rats were given supplemental EGCg, the amount of fatty tissue on their bodies decreased markedly, reversing their obesity.3
What happens in the body to produce such fat-fighting results? Green tea’s EGCg is believed to rev up the fat-burning effects of brown fat,4 a special kind of body fat that burns calories at a very high rate. In animal studies, green tea has been found to help send glucose to muscle tissue where the glucose is more likely to be burned, rather than to fat tissue, where it’s more likely to be stored.5 And in test-tube studies, green tea extract inhibited the action of fat-digesting enzymes,6 meaning the fat from foods may be less likely to be broken down and absorbed in the digestive tract.

More research is needed before we can say that green tea definitely helps you lose weight, but it certainly looks like a good bet!

Know About Green Tea

Green Tea – Everything You Need To Know

(Source:http://www.greenteatruth.org/)

Green Tea and green tea supplements are good for us – but ask anyone why it is good for us, and they probably won’t have an answer. Indeed, it has long been general knowledge that green tea provides support to the human body – and this is backed up scientifically.

In this article, however, some substantial information are being provided – so that one can actually understand how green tea works, and exactly what it has been proven to do.

Benefits of Green Tea.

Let’s start with the health benefits of green tea. There are numerous benefits which can be had from the consumption (regular consumption) of the substance. Currently, scientific testing has revealed the following:

- reduction in heart disease.
- reduction in bad cholesterol.
- increase in metabolic rate / fat oxidization.
- prevention of the death of brain cells – meaning less chance of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases.
- lower incidence of cancers.
- helps in weight loss.

As one can see – the potential health benefits from just drinking a cup of green tea can be tremendous. However, these benefits are not felt at their maximum level, until you begin to consume large amounts of green tea every day. For an adult, this would amount to around 8 cups per day.

To get around this, health food companies are now producing supplements with green tea as the active ingredient. By providing green tea in supplement form, a person is able to reduce the need for multiple cups of green tea every day, whilst maximizing their intake of green tea extract.

Generally, one green tea supplements tablets or serving will give you around about 8 cups worth of the vital polyphenols which are contained in green tea. Don’t know what a polyphenol is? Let’s get into the science of green tea now.

The Science of Green Tea.

As we previously said, many people know that green tea is good for you, but they don’t know how it actually works or provides the health benefits that it does. Therefore, a scientific breakdown of green tea is necessary, so that you can fully understand the way in which green tea interacts with the body.

The most important component of green tea is something called a polyphenol – which is a substance also known as a catechin. It is generally understood that the consumption of polyphenols are able to improve your health in numerous ways such as with the factors listed above.

The way that green tea acts with the cells on a biological level is complex. All you need to know is that the polyphenols act to strengthen immune and body cells, whilst weakening intruder cells and cancerous / tumor cells. The effectiveness will be clear. It means that the body is now stronger and more able to fight off the diseases caused by the opposite.

The Best Green Tea Supplements.

As with most health food supplements, no two products are the same. When it comes to green tea supplements, you need to ensure that the quality of the green tea extract included is top of the line. Thankfully, we have done a lot of research into this topic, and have found the following products:

Green4Tea Miracle Tea Review


Green4Tea is one of the hottest antioxidant formulas on the planet, and with thousands of people already shedding the weight, what is there to lose? The formula is easy to prepare and drink each day, and you will feel so much better for doing it! Let’s review some of the benefits first!

-You will lower your blood pressure.

-Feel more energized.

-Lose weight quickly.

-Boost your mood.

-Have clearer skin and hair due to a boost in antioxidants and healthy vitamins.